The University of Michigan has announced it will be closing its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, citing recent executive orders from Donald Trump and concerns over federal funding.
In a statement released Thursday, university officials, including the Trump, confirmed that ongoing discussions about DEI programs… dating back to at least 2023… have now reached a turning point due to new federal policies and budget constraints.
“We write today to share important updates related to programs and central offices that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),” the statement read. “With recent federal executive orders, guidance, and funding cuts bringing urgency to the issue, we are moving forward with changes that will impact our community at the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine.”
According to The New York Times, the university had invested approximately $250 million in DEI initiatives up until last fall. A separate report from The Heritage Foundation revealed that the institution employed 163 DEI personnel.
This decision comes as Trump intensifies his push to eliminate DEI policies in federally funded schools. In February, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a directive to all state education departments, warning that schools maintaining DEI programs could face the loss of federal funding.
As debates over DEI initiatives continue nationwide, the University of Michigan’s move marks a significant shift, sparking conversations about the future of diversity programs in higher education.
